Do you compare yourself to others? Do you look at their gifts and talents and wish God had made you more like them? Me too…

There was I time when I thought I could conquer the world. But after many failures and lots of disappointment that changed. Fear and doubt crept in and took up residence in my once confident heart. I began to compare myself to others. Which made it worse. Before I realized it, my confidence was nearly gone. I began to think I had no purpose.

When we think we have no purpose we forget who we are.
When we forget who we are we get of course.
When we get off course we take unnecessary detours.

Thankfully when we take these detours God uses them as spiritual growth opportunities. Once we have grown from these opportunities He provides a way to get back on track towards our original destination.

Not too ago I was asked to help in the kids’ ministry to sub as a girl’s small group leader. In the lesson we were asked to discuss creativity and the ways God designed each of us to be creative. I decided to have each girl write down three specific ways God made her creative. When they finished I invited them to share their list with the group.

One by one each girl read aloud what she had written. As I listened, I noticed a similarity. Each girl confidently shared that her crazy or weird personality was one way God made her to be creative. And after each one shared the others complemented her.

There was no comparing. No insecurity. Only the embracement of the crazy, weird, and unique way God created them. It was refreshing to see them rejoice together in their own God-given brand of individuality. They inspired me and I wanted to be like them.

God’s purpose for my being there that day was not what I had planned. I walked in there that day thinking He was going to get me to say something profound to these girls. What actually happened was quite the opposite. God used these precious girls to speak to my heart and get me back on track.

A Beautiful Reminder:

• Embrace who God has created you to be. You are his masterpiece. Ephesians 2:10
• Don’t compare yourself to others. Your uniqueness is a gift. 1 Peter 4:10
• Let God use the talents and gifts He gave you. You have a purpose. Psalm 138:8
• Praise God and thank Him. Rejoice in your individuality. Psalm 139:13-14

We don’t have to all fit into the same mold. God gave each of us different talents, gifts, and characteristics.When we use these attributes to be creative we can do some pretty amazing things for the Kingdom of God.

Lord, we thank you for the unique way you have created each of us. We rejoice in your masterpiece. Help us use the gifts you have given us to share your love with the world. Amen.

 

Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (NIV)

 

Psalm 138:8, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your

steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” (ESV)

 

1 Peter 4:10, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” (NIV)

 

Psalm 139: 13-14, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (NIV)